[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 71 (Tuesday, May 13, 2003)]
[House]
[Page H3980]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                 CYPRUS

  (Mr. BEREUTER asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, several weeks ago, this House for the 
first time in 6 years spoke unanimously and decisively on the current 
situation involving Cyprus. On March 27, this body voted 422-0 to 
express our disappointment that a United Nations-backed settlement plan 
would not be presented to the people of Cyprus for their consideration. 
The resolution, introduced by this Member, also called for the Greek 
and Turkish Cypriot leaders to quickly return to the negotiating table 
to find a fair and lasting settlement acceptable to all.
  Since passage of that resolution, two extraordinary events have taken 
place on that divided island. The first took place over Easter holiday 
when Turkish Cypriot leader, Mr. Rauf Denktash, announced a freedom of 
movement policy whereby the border separating the two sides would be 
open for the free passage of the island's population. In another 
welcome move shortly thereafter, the Cyprus Government announced that 
it was initiating 19 confidence-building measures. Some of those 
included lifting of trade restrictions between the north and the south 
and the de-mining of the Greek Cypriot side of the buffer zone.
  Mr. Speaker, whatever the impact the actions of this House had on 
events which have taken place on Cyprus, a new and positive attitude 
has taken hold on that island. This Member would like to commend Mr. 
Denktash for taking the bold and most welcome actions he initiated. In 
addition, this Member wishes to offer a special note of congratulations 
to President Papadopoulos for the comprehensive and impressive measures 
his government has put forward and has begun to implement.
  Others include the hiring of Turkish Cypriot professionals in the 
Cyprus Government; restoration of direct telecommunications between the 
Greek Cypriot side and the north as well as with Turkey; permitting 
Turkish Cypriot athletes to participate as members of national sporting 
teams of the Republic of Cyprus; improved health care opportunities for 
Turkish Cypriots; and an accounting of missing personnel, just to name 
a few.
  Of further interest, Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan traveled to north 
Cyprus last weekend. It was this Member's hope that the visit would 
help pave the way for the eventual resumption of settlement 
negotiations between the two Cypriot sides. In the meantime, however, 
it was also this Member's hope that Turkey could be helpful in building 
confidence on the island by announcing several new initiatives as well. 
These could include the demining of the Turkish side to the buffer 
zone; placing the town of Famagusta under U.N. control for its 
reconstruction and return of its original inhabitants; addressing the 
issue of the enclaved people living in northern Cyprus, and to restart 
the missing persons' investigative committee.
  Mr. Speaker, while open borders, telecommunications and demining will 
not ultimately settle the division of the island, these measures, 
hopefully, will lead to more trust and a willingness to quickly resume 
the negotiations, and find a settlement for this division, which is the 
strong desire of this House.

                          ____________________